UMG PULLS IN NEARLY
$9B IN 2020

Universal Music Group’s revenues approached $9b in 2020, a 3.8% spike over 2019. Streaming revenues of $4.63b were up 16.2% from 2019.

Streaming more than offset the 6% decline in physical sales compared to 2019 and the 19% decline in download sales. Revenue for the year hit $8.97b.

Music publishing revenues of $1.43b were up 14.4% at constant currency and perimeter compared to 2019, driven by increased subscription and streaming revenues, as well as the receipt of a digital royalty claim in the second quarter of 2020.

Streaming accounts for 52% of UMG's revenues and 64% of the recorded music unit's income.

Driven by the growth in revenues, revenues mix and cost control, UMG’s EBITA amounted to $1.6b, up 18.3%, UMG parent Vivendi reported.

In touting the success of The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, Post Malone and others in 2020, the company signaled that it has high expectations of 2021 releases from Justin Bieber, Lana Del Rey, Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift and Juanes, among others.

UMG’s revenue of $2.55b in the final quarter of 2020 was up slightly from 2019’s $2.53b.

Vivendi has called an Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting for 3/29 to modify the company’s bylaws to consider a distribution in kind of 60% of UMG’s share capital to Vivendi shareholders.